New CLA 45 First Look! AMG’s 680HP Electric A45 Replacement!
The new #mercedesamg #CLA45 #AMG is here — and this time, AMG’s famous compact performance hero has gone fully electric!
Yes, the car that once represented AMG’s wildest four-cylinder era has now become a 680HP EV. For many of us, that is a difficult one to process, because the A45, CLA 45, GLA 45 and later A45 S were some of the most important modern entry points into AMG. They were fast, aggressive, attainable, full of character, and for many owners, the first proper AMG they ever bought. But this new CLA 45 is a very different kind of AMG.
Instead of the legendary 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder, this new model steals the interior of the new GT 4 door: with three axial flux electric motors — one at the front and two at the rear — with technology closely linked to the new AMG GT 4-Door EV. Power is a massive 680HP, with 612HP continuous output, 1,759Nm, 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive, and 0-100km/h in just 2.7 seconds.
That means this compact AMG now has power and acceleration figures that put it into a completely different world from the old CLA 45 S, the A45 S, the Audi RS3, and even cars like the BMW M2. On power-to-weight, it is also right in the zone of much bigger machines like the new BMW M5 Hybrid and Porsche Taycan GTS, while still being much smaller than the full AMG GT 4-Door EV.
But numbers alone do not make an AMG. So in this first look, we go through the full car properly: the tech, the design, the performance, the comparisons, the interior, the sound, and the question that matters most — can an electric CLA 45 still feel like a real AMG?
What to expect:
The four-cylinder 45 AMG era we loved
The New EV 45 plan
Power-to-weight comparisons
Active aero and AMG design changes
CLA 45 EV vs CLA 45 S
Coupe and Shooting Brake
Full tear down of the CLA 45 EV
AMGFORCE S+ sound system / CLA 45 Exhaust Sound
Simulated shifts and seat shakers
Design exterior
Interior review
AMG-specific displays
Final thoughts: brave AMG future or a step too far?
Outside, we compare the new CLA 45 with the normal CLA, the previous CLA 45 S, the new AMG GT 4-Door EV, and the Shooting Brake version. We look at the wider front end, the AMG grille, the optional illuminated light bar (don’t get it!), active rear spoiler, rear diffuser, stance and comparison to the old CLA 45S.
Inside, we explore the AMG-specific cabin, new MBUX system, AMG displays, Performance seats, seat shakers, steering wheel controls and more.
Finally, we discuss the bigger question: will existing AMG 45 and 35 owners accept this? The old cars worked because they were attainable, emotional, familiar and had strong residuals. This new one is faster and more advanced than ever, but also heavier, more complex and fully electric?
So is the new AMG CLA 45 a brave new future for the 45 series, or has AMG lost something important by removing the engine that made these cars famous? Let me know your thoughts!
all-new Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 REVEAL - a small AMG GT 4 door with 3 s acceleration! (2027)
